Luol Deng

The hottest rumor right now surrounding the Orlando Magic is the notion that the Magic would send Marcin Gortat and Mickael Pietrus to the Chicago Bulls for Luol Deng. In fact, the Chicago Tribune says such a trade has been discussed but is unlikely. I don't think a deal will happen, either. Deng is a very good small forward, no doubt about it. You could argue that he would be a clear upgrade for the Magic at that position. But the Magic are a team that arguably needs to get more size to compete with teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics.

The Orlando Magic are about to shatter an NBA record. Through 81 games, the team has attempted 1,334 free throws, averaging almost 16.5 per game. The 2005-06 Phoenix Suns set the league record for fewest free-throw attempts per game, attempting 18.0 foul shots per game. Mathematically, there's no possible way the Magic could eclipse the Suns' average - not with the Magic about to play their season finale Wednesday night against the Miami Heat in Miami. The Philadelphia 76ers also are on pace to beat the Suns' record too, but the Sixers have attempted 29 more free throws than the Magic and are averaging 16.8 attempts per game.

Ask any NBA player, and he'll probably tell you both he and his team are underrated. That's the way professional athletes are. They're highly driven, highly competitive people who will use even the most miniscule slight as motivation. Sometimes, however, they're right. Maybe a player's underrated because he plays in a small market. Maybe he's overshadowed by a bigger star on his team. Maybe he's overlooked because he's too small or possesses an unorthodox shooting motion.

The seemingly annual dance to secure Luol Deng's insurance for international competition took a mildly confrontational turn on Saturday. Chris Spice, performance director for British Basketball, accused the Bulls of pressuring Deng to withdraw from his Olympic commitment because of his wrist injury. Spice's statement also decried the NBA's lack of support. NBA and Bulls officials declined to respond. "Luol Deng is hugely committed to the British Basketball program and he has maintained this stance despite recent pressure for him not to play after injuring his wrist during the highly-demanding shortened NBA season," Spice's statement said.

Now we're talking about the best of the best. We're ranking the NBA's top 10 players at each position over five weeks. This week, we're on small forwards. These are not fantasy basketball rankings. These rankings also don't measure players' potential or their career achievements. Instead, these rankings are meant to capture where players rank at this moment. We'll unveil two rankings a day, beginning on Monday mornings with the 10th best player at a position and ending on Friday afternoons with the best player at that position.

The seemingly annual dance to secure Luol Deng's insurance for international competition took a mildly confrontational turn on Saturday. Chris Spice, performance director for British Basketball, accused the Bulls of pressuring Deng to withdraw from his Olympic commitment because of his wrist injury. Spice's statement also decried the NBA's lack of support. NBA and Bulls officials declined to respond. "Luol Deng is hugely committed to the British Basketball program and he has maintained this stance despite recent pressure for him not to play after injuring his wrist during the highly-demanding shortened NBA season," Spice's statement said.

Jermaine O'Neal was placed on the injured list Friday by the Indiana Pacers, one day after he sprained his shoulder in a game at Denver. The Pacers also waived forward Michael Curry and signed veteran free-agent forward Dale Davis. Davis was waived by New Orleans earlier this week after being acquired in the deal that sent Baron Davis to Golden State. O'Neal sprained his right shoulder on a drive in the second quarter. He will miss a minimum of five games. CHANGES FOR GRIZZLIES The Memphis Grizzlies put Bonzi Wells on the injured list with a slightly herniated disc, and he is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: SIXERS: Jrue Holiday: The point guard has been able to get the most quality shots for the Sixers, but hasn't been able to knock them down at a very good rate. Not only will he need to shoot well, he will need to do it early. BULLS: Taj Gibson: If he is able to play, and he insists he will despite rolling his ankle in Game 5, he is the difference between the two teams. If he is hindered at all it is a huge advantage for the Sixers. KEYS TO THE GAME: 1. Shooting: The Sixers' inability to hit outside shots lends to them wanting to take the ball to the basket, which is all well and good if there are openings.

PHILADELPHIA — Joakim Noah ditched his crutches Sunday in favor of a large walking boot to protect his severely sprained left ankle, which also will force him out of Tuesday's Game 5 at least. Despite coach Tom Thibodeau calling Noah day-to-day and saying he is improving, Noah still can't put full weight on the ankle, which remains swollen. "Jo's a much better shooter than he's given credit for and can knock down those 16-foot shots pretty consistently," said Thibodeau, when asked what they miss.

INDIANAPOLIS — Rather than focusing on the number 1, Tom Thibodeau is more concerned with 15. That's how many games Derrick Rose , Richard Hamilton , Luol Deng , Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah have started together (going 13-2), which is why that lineup played one night after the Bulls clinched the Eastern Conference's top seed for the second straight season. "We still need to find some rhythm with guys," Thibodeau said.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Bulls ' 100-68 victory over the Bobcats dropped their magic number to clinch the Eastern Conference's top playoff seed to three, again displayed the possibilities of an effective Richard Hamilton and handed their foe its 18th straight loss. So Wednesday meant something. Thursday brings the final regular-season showdown against the Heat , against whom the Bulls hold a 2-1 season series edge and an eye on a conference finals rematch.

NEW YORK --- Derrick Rose returned from missing 12 games with a groin injury for Sunday's Chicago Bulls matinee versus the New York Knicks . "There is going to be some rust with the timing," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "But what he has done in the past when he has missed time is come back strong and pick things up very quickly. " Thibodeau said Rose's minutes might drop a little. But Thibodeau said the reigning most valuable player has looked explosive in practice.

In late January, when Luol Deng made his bold decision to skip surgery and play through a torn ligament in his left wrist, he knew there would be nights like this. Nights when he felt like a one-handed player. Nights when the pain no longer seemed manageable. That's why the Bulls ' 99-94 defeat at the hands of the Magic , which ended the Bulls' eight-game winning streak, might not be the only loss from Thursday night. After missing 8 of 9 shots, Deng, in more resigned than frustrated tones, admitted he might have to rest his injured wrist for a couple of games.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: SIXERS: Jrue Holiday: The point guard has been able to get the most quality shots for the Sixers, but hasn't been able to knock them down at a very good rate. Not only will he need to shoot well, he will need to do it early. BULLS: Taj Gibson: If he is able to play, and he insists he will despite rolling his ankle in Game 5, he is the difference between the two teams. If he is hindered at all it is a huge advantage for the Sixers. KEYS TO THE GAME: 1. Shooting: The Sixers' inability to hit outside shots lends to them wanting to take the ball to the basket, which is all well and good if there are openings.

First-time All-Star Luol Deng of the Chicago Bulls isn't sure how competitive Sunday night's All-Star Game will be, but figures he'll find out once he gets an opportunity to handle the ball. "If I come down with the ball and someone is playing tough D on me, I'm going to play tough D on them," Deng said. "I'll just see how it goes. " Boston Celtics veteran Paul Pierce , making his 10th All-Star appearance, understands how the game typically unfolds.

First-time All-Star Luol Deng of the Chicago Bulls isn't sure how competitive Sunday night's All-Star Game will be, but figures he'll find out once he gets an opportunity to handle the ball. "If I come down with the ball and someone is playing tough D on me, I'm going to play tough D on them," Deng said. "I'll just see how it goes. " Boston Celtics veteran Paul Pierce , making his 10th All-Star appearance, understands how the game typically unfolds.

Ask any NBA player, and he'll probably tell you both he and his team are underrated. That's the way professional athletes are. They're highly driven, highly competitive people who will use even the most miniscule slight as motivation. Sometimes, however, they're right. Maybe a player's underrated because he plays in a small market. Maybe he's overshadowed by a bigger star on his team. Maybe he's overlooked because he's too small or possesses an unorthodox shooting motion.